I’ll never accept a call from this Himeros guy again. Whatever his thing is, I’m not playing. Not in my headspace.
Chapter Ten
After my week of non-orgasmic-as-usual action with my clients, I decide to take a few days off. My bank account is fat and I’m wiped out. Working in my Headspace is harder than it looks. It requires a lot of energy to merge minds with another. It’s a breathtaking autumn day and I need to get out. I pulse-com Jonas to hear what’s happening with him. They guy who answers is not the guy I know and love. It’s like an imposter has taken his place.
“Hey, V,” a weary voice greets me.
“Hey. What’s going on?”
“Not much. You?”
The conversation is so stilted, I falter. “Not much,” I finally manage to say. “I, um, I wondered if you wanted to go grab a bite with me. It’s a pretty day.”
A sigh lands in my ears. “I’m afraid not, V. We’re working on the Joner Restoration project over here.”
“Okay, so?”
“So, no on grabbing a bite.”
“Okay, maybe tomorrow?”
“I’m afraid not. We’re trying to work things out.”
A burst of sudden rage pummels my gut. “What, so that means you don’t get to have any friends anymore?”
“Oh, I still get to retain a few.”
“Are you kidding me? Which few? Am I on the list?” A stiff silence cuts a hole in my ear. “Are you fucking shitting me, Jonas? Have I been booted from the list?” More stabbing silence. “I should be at the top!” Tears erupt from my eyes. I will never, ever in a thousand years understand a dysfunctional couple like Jonas and Jenner. “Seriously?” I say to the silence. “Jonas? Talk to me.”
“I’m sorry, V. This is over. I can’t do it. For now.”
The pulse-com echoes in my ear, letting me know that Jonas has disconnected. Disconnected! My friend of umpty-ump years has disconnected from me! “Fuck him,” I yell into the room. “Fuck him and his ancestors.”
Nigel saunters into the room. Having a little upset ?He parks his haunches and sets to grooming his paws. Keep it down, will you? I’m trying to digest .
“Grrr,” I respond. “Grrr, grrr, and double grrr.” I’m hurt, angry, and bewildered. I reconsider. It was just a moment. We can work this out. I pulse-com Jonas back. No one answers. He always answers me, even if he’s in a meeting. I wait a few and try again. Nothing. Impulsively, I pulse-com my new friend, Magicka.
“Hey, girl, what’s doing? I’m just about to go out on a date.”
“Lucky you,” I grumble into the phone.
“Oh, my, honey, whatever’s the matter? It’s not a date date. Want to come along?”
“I’m afraid I wouldn’t be much company. I just got stood up by Mr. Inched-Away-from-the-Edge. We’ve been friends for years! Now, suddenly, I’m on a watch list courtesy of jealous bitch girlfriends who go out on their man and then have the nerve to tell him who he can and can’t be friends with!” That came out stronger than I intended. “I’m sorry to burden you with my shit. Sorry. Go on your date. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re coming with me and Dean, darling. I insist. We’ve got two pairs of caring ears and need a little drama. Give me your address.”
I sheepishly mumble it into the com. I hate to appear weak or incompetent. I especially hate to appear weak.
“I’m there in fifteen.”
The pulse-com echoes in my ear. While I wait I decide to get to the task I’ve put off all week. I pulse the company that background-checks my clientele.
“Yes, this is Insight. How may I help you?”
“A client contacted me several times on October 24. I haven’t vetted him. He appears as an avatar called Himeros. What can you tell me about him? Any psycho behavior?”
“One moment. Checking.”
I idly pet Nigel while I wait. A whirring sound comes through the pulse-com like a million tiny bees’ wings.
“We find no records of such a person.”
“Look deeper. He has to be in there. He got my number. He was
Chapter Ten
After my week of non-orgasmic-as-usual action with my clients, I decide to take a few days off. My bank account is fat and I’m wiped out. Working in my Headspace is harder than it looks. It requires a lot of energy to merge minds with another. It’s a breathtaking autumn day and I need to get out. I pulse-com Jonas to hear what’s happening with him. They guy who answers is not the guy I know and love. It’s like an imposter has taken his place.
“Hey, V,” a weary voice greets me.
“Hey. What’s going on?”
“Not much. You?”
The conversation is so stilted, I falter. “Not much,” I finally manage to say. “I, um, I wondered if you wanted to go grab a bite with me. It’s a pretty day.”
A sigh lands in my ears. “I’m afraid not, V. We’re working on the Joner Restoration project over here.”
“Okay, so?”
“So, no on grabbing a bite.”
“Okay, maybe tomorrow?”
“I’m afraid not. We’re trying to work things out.”
A burst of sudden rage pummels my gut. “What, so that means you don’t get to have any friends anymore?”
“Oh, I still get to retain a few.”
“Are you kidding me? Which few? Am I on the list?” A stiff silence cuts a hole in my ear. “Are you fucking shitting me, Jonas? Have I been booted from the list?” More stabbing silence. “I should be at the top!” Tears erupt from my eyes. I will never, ever in a thousand years understand a dysfunctional couple like Jonas and Jenner. “Seriously?” I say to the silence. “Jonas? Talk to me.”
“I’m sorry, V. This is over. I can’t do it. For now.”
The pulse-com echoes in my ear, letting me know that Jonas has disconnected. Disconnected! My friend of umpty-ump years has disconnected from me! “Fuck him,” I yell into the room. “Fuck him and his ancestors.”
Nigel saunters into the room. Having a little upset ?He parks his haunches and sets to grooming his paws. Keep it down, will you? I’m trying to digest .
“Grrr,” I respond. “Grrr, grrr, and double grrr.” I’m hurt, angry, and bewildered. I reconsider. It was just a moment. We can work this out. I pulse-com Jonas back. No one answers. He always answers me, even if he’s in a meeting. I wait a few and try again. Nothing. Impulsively, I pulse-com my new friend, Magicka.
“Hey, girl, what’s doing? I’m just about to go out on a date.”
“Lucky you,” I grumble into the phone.
“Oh, my, honey, whatever’s the matter? It’s not a date date. Want to come along?”
“I’m afraid I wouldn’t be much company. I just got stood up by Mr. Inched-Away-from-the-Edge. We’ve been friends for years! Now, suddenly, I’m on a watch list courtesy of jealous bitch girlfriends who go out on their man and then have the nerve to tell him who he can and can’t be friends with!” That came out stronger than I intended. “I’m sorry to burden you with my shit. Sorry. Go on your date. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re coming with me and Dean, darling. I insist. We’ve got two pairs of caring ears and need a little drama. Give me your address.”
I sheepishly mumble it into the com. I hate to appear weak or incompetent. I especially hate to appear weak.
“I’m there in fifteen.”
The pulse-com echoes in my ear. While I wait I decide to get to the task I’ve put off all week. I pulse the company that background-checks my clientele.
“Yes, this is Insight. How may I help you?”
“A client contacted me several times on October 24. I haven’t vetted him. He appears as an avatar called Himeros. What can you tell me about him? Any psycho behavior?”
“One moment. Checking.”
I idly pet Nigel while I wait. A whirring sound comes through the pulse-com like a million tiny bees’ wings.
“We find no records of such a person.”
“Look deeper. He has to be in there. He got my number. He was
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